[Birdtalk] Southern Utah Update

[Tim Avery]

Kind of a hectic couple weeks.  After being home last weekend and birding
Saturday, Sunday and Monday I headed back south to Richfield on Monday night.
I was greeted with thunderstorms and set up my camp in the rain.  Monday after
working near Richfield I headed south thru Panguitch and up up to Panguitch
Lake hoping the Pacific Loon Rick found last week was still around.  After
scanning much of the southeast portion of the lake I headed to the south boat
launch and as I pulled onto the ramp there was the loon just 100 feet off
shore.  IT was pouring rain but the loon went about business as normal, diving
and swimming as if it were a sunny day!

http://timaverybirding.com/photos/july07/palo_01.jpg
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/july07/palo_02.jpg
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/july07/palo_03.jpg

Did a little birding around Brian Head where Gray Jay, Western Tanager, Clark's
Nutcracker and White-crowned Sparrow were abound.  A flock of around 120 Common
Raven just below Brian Head Peak was an odd site for a July afternoon.  The
birds scattered into about 5 trees and this one had about 30 in it:

http://timaverybirding.com/photos/july07/ravens_01.jpg

On Wednesday in First Left Hand Canyon off of Parowan Canyon the birds were out
and making racket.  Dusky, Gray and Cordilleran Flycatchers as well as Gray,
Warbling and Plumbeous Vireo were all heard or seen.

I camped Wednesday night at 9000' in Beaver Canyon.  I took the opportunity to
work on getting some pics of high mountain birds I hadn't yet this year.

Dark-eyed Junco
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/july07/deju_01.jpg

Red-breasted Nuthatch
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/july07/rbnu_01.jpg

Orange-crowned Warbler
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/july07/ocwa_01.jpg

MacGillivray's Warbler
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/july07/mawa_01.jpg

Red-naped Sapsucker
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/july07/rnsa_01.jpg

On Wednesday night after I hopped into the tent for the night an owl started
shrieking near camp.  My co-worker asked what it was and I listened for a
minute before deciding it wasn't a Saw-whet Owl, but it still sounded Aegolius
giving me the impression it may be a first summer Boreal Owl.  However this is
just speculation as I don't know what one sounds like and can't find a
recording online to listen to.

And yesterday I started the morning in Koosharem Canyon (near Koosharem, Utah). 
As with most locations during the week, juvenile birds were everywhere. 
Northern Flicker, Red-naped Sapsucker, Black-headed Grosbeak, Yellow Warbler,
and American Robin young were everywhere.

Northern Flicker
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/july07/nofl_01.jpg
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/july07/nofl_02.jpg

And while hiking into the canyon in the mud from the previous nights rain was
something I hadn't expected:

http://timaverybirding.com/photos/july07/cougar_paw_01.jpg

Then late yesterday I raced back to Salt Lake and switched vehicles to drive out
to the desert...  Here are a few more pics from Fish Springs:

Black-crowned Night-Heron
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/july07/bcnh_01.jpg
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/july07/bcnh_02.jpg

Black Tern
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/july07/blte_01.jpg
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/july07/blte_02.jpg

Sunset over the Fish Springs Range
http://timaverybirding.com/photos/july07/sunset_00.jpg

Good Birding

Tim
Salt Lake City, UT
tanager at timaverybirding.com
http://www.timaverybirding.com